VanNessCapades: July 2012

NAPA VALLEY

JUNE 2012

This is our 11th Trip to Napa. This time around we decided to try a few new places than our usual, "go-tos"

Crocker and Starr

What a neat Lamp! Custom Made..It looks like the wine bottle

is the lamp base but its actually just a prop and on the stand

I liked the roof of the tasting room-kinda looks like a circus tent!

Taylor's Automatic Refresher (Gott's)

Gotta Grab a Ahi Tuna Sandwich and White Pistachio Shake

Vineyard 29

very pretty tasting room in their cave

Food and Wine Pairing (think mine got a little shifted during serving..still tasted great!)

Oenotri Restaurant

Downtown Napa right across the street from

the hotel we were staying at, Avia

Everyone we talked to said this is the place to go..it has high food ratings

I think my pasta was the best!-STROZZAPRETTI WITH WILLIS FARM PORK RAGU AND PECORINO ROMANO

Those noodles went on FOREVER! Can you see that I was also sampling the WILD NETTLE RADIATORE WITH RED BRO HEN, SMOKED TOMATO AND ESPELETTE PEPPER

Dessert-lemon gelato and mini cream puffs with chocolate gelato

GemStone

Frank Family

I honestly didn't care for the tasting here (maybe it was bc it was the last one of the day!) or maybe it was because the bottles we sampled were like $95..I just thought it was too pricey for what it was. Give me Domaine Carneros or Chandon instead!

Robert Sinsky

Bottega

Probably my Favorite in Napa..its always super busy so good luck getting a table (even when you have a reservation they make you wait quite a while) its a bustling place...but the pasta is killer and worth it!

Duck ,Duck, Duck-3 Ways

There KILLER chocolate soufflé..of course they make you order it ahead of time(takes 30 mins to prepare) so you are committed..but its worth it. The best part is the parchment that is around it....they take it off at the table and than fan the luscious chocolate smell..letting it intensify till it hits you in the face and you just have to have a bite!

The finishing touch on the chocolate dessert

A Day Trip to Healdsburg

Dry Creek Kitchen
at the Hotel Healdsburg

J- The Bubble Room

One of our favorite places to visit..the bubble room is always fun and the food and wining pairing always spot on

One of our hostesses- I was so impressed by her ability to carry so many wine glasses

I had to have her show me how she does it!

Dessert and Bubbles Pairing

ChalkHill

SCOPA

In healdsburg, love this place...this is the restaurant that got me to eat green olives-I had never tasted olives so delicious! Castelventrano

Excellent Pasta

Domaine Carneros

Helps being a club member, great specials and everytime you got a free glass!

I want pretty,twisty trees like this at my house!!!

Downtown Napa Farmers Market..Learning Hands Only CPR

Morimoto

Jarvis

The Best Breakfast in Downtown Napa is at ABC Bakery (Alexis Baking Company)
Fantastic Potato Rolls and Cinnamon Bread (and other baked goods)
Lots of yummy mexican breakfasts